Ex-Saints defender Danny Higginbotham retires - just a week after joining a new club!

Former Saints defender Danny Higginbotham has announced his retirement with immediate effect - only a week after joining Skrill North side Altrincham.

The 35-year-old made the switch to his home town club from Chester in a bid to reignite his love of the game, but that has now been extinguished, with the Gibraltar international deciding to call time on his career.

"I realise this will come completely out of the blue to a lot of people, but, believe me, it is not a decision that has been taken lightly. It is a massive step to hang up your boots and accept you are finished, but it's one I could not avoid," Higginbotham said.

"Looking back, I should probably have quit when I left Chester, but I couldn't pass up the chance of joining Alty. I always said I would play for the club I have always supported and I genuinely hoped it would prove the catalyst for firing me up again and getting me back to how I used to be.

"But the harsh reality is, it didn't, and if anything confirms it is time to go, then that's it.

"I had to be true to myself, and if I had carried on pocketing money for the rest of the season, I'd have been letting down the rest of the players, the manager, the supporters and everyone connected with the club.

"'Last night at Gainsborough just confirmed it. It wasn't because we lost. I can take a defeat. I just wasn't enjoying it and wasn't putting my body on the line like I used to in my Premier League days, and I just couldn't put it off any longer."

Higginbotham started his career at Manchester United where he made seven appearances, before a loan spell at Royal Antwerp preceded spells with Derby, Saints - who he joined in a £1.5m deal in the first ever January transfer window 11 years ago -Stoke and Sunderland.

Perhaps the skunts could talk him out of it to join them. He's about at the right level now. Seriously though Danny was a 100% effort player but never really great at Prem level. As I remember it he was one of Wuperts pile 'em high and get 'em cheap players.

Perhaps the skunts could talk him out of it to join them. He's about at the right level now. Seriously though Danny was a 100% effort player but never really great at Prem level. As I remember it he was one of Wuperts pile 'em high and get 'em cheap players.Clever Dick

Ozmosis wrote:
I hope Altrincham didn't pay much for him - they will be rightly peeved otherwise

I can't imagine they paid anything for him, to be honest. He was a free agent offered the chance of playing for his hometown - he'll have done it for free.

[quote][p][bold]Ozmosis[/bold] wrote:
I hope Altrincham didn't pay much for him - they will be rightly peeved otherwise[/p][/quote]I can't imagine they paid anything for him, to be honest. He was a free agent offered the chance of playing for his hometown - he'll have done it for free.St Retford

Clever Dick wrote:
Perhaps the skunts could talk him out of it to join them. He's about at the right level now. Seriously though Danny was a 100% effort player but never really great at Prem level. As I remember it he was one of Wuperts pile 'em high and get 'em cheap players.

You say never really great at prem level, how did he manage a whole career nearly playing top level football?

[quote][p][bold]Clever Dick[/bold] wrote:
Perhaps the skunts could talk him out of it to join them. He's about at the right level now. Seriously though Danny was a 100% effort player but never really great at Prem level. As I remember it he was one of Wuperts pile 'em high and get 'em cheap players.[/p][/quote]You say never really great at prem level, how did he manage a whole career nearly playing top level football?Brusher Mills

Clever Dick wrote:
Perhaps the skunts could talk him out of it to join them. He's about at the right level now. Seriously though Danny was a 100% effort player but never really great at Prem level. As I remember it he was one of Wuperts pile 'em high and get 'em cheap players.

You say never really great at prem level, how did he manage a whole career nearly playing top level football?

You summed it up very nicely. He nearly played at the top level.

[quote][p][bold]Brusher Mills[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]Clever Dick[/bold] wrote:
Perhaps the skunts could talk him out of it to join them. He's about at the right level now. Seriously though Danny was a 100% effort player but never really great at Prem level. As I remember it he was one of Wuperts pile 'em high and get 'em cheap players.[/p][/quote]You say never really great at prem level, how did he manage a whole career nearly playing top level football?[/p][/quote]You summed it up very nicely. He nearly played at the top level.Clever Dick